Topic: 5 Best 3-Row SUVs for Under $60K in Canada: 2023

[Layne]

No Honda Pilot?

[PJungnitsch]

New Tahoe's list at $70,000 to $90,000, ouch!

$90k seems low on the high side.

You are right. Tahoe's go to 100,000, XL Yukon Denali's go to $120,000

Have to be a good profit center for GM

[OliverD]

New Tahoe's list at $70,000 to $90,000, ouch!

$90k seems low on the high side.

You are right. Tahoe's go to 100,000, XL Yukon Denali's go to $120,000

Have to be a good profit center for GM

They always have been.

[valuator]

No Honda Pilot?

*Looks at the one I drive everyday*

The current model isn't competitive anymore.  The 2023 looks to be back towards the head of the class, and the "base" Sport trim would fit the under $60k price bracket.

[Jaeger]

I'd trust my family in a decently maintained 20 year old GMT800 with 300K on it over the average 3 year old CUV any time.

Really?  My CX-5 is an average 3 year old CUV and it is perfectly fine. 

What, do you think all CUV"s just turn to junk after three years?  Maybe if all you're used to is an Equinox...

My thoughts exactly.

[Jaeger]

New Tahoe's list at $70,000 to $90,000, ouch!

$90k seems low on the high side.

You are right. Tahoe's go to 100,000, XL Yukon Denali's go to $120,000

Have to be a good profit center for GM

They always have been.

Which is why it's a kind of pointless comparison. Like showing up in a review thread for a new Civic, and saying, well, an old LS is a better car. Okay, so what?

[Firm]

I'd trust my family in a decently maintained 20 year old GMT800 with 300K on it over the average 3 year old CUV any time.

Really?  My CX-5 is an average 3 year old CUV and it is perfectly fine. 

What, do you think all CUV"s just turn to junk after three years?  Maybe if all you're used to is an Equinox...

My thoughts exactly.

Where did I even imply that a 3 year old CUV would be junk? I just said I'd trust the reliability of a GMT800 over it.....That's not saying it's junk, that's just saying that it's likely going to be less reliable than a decently maintained 800.

You two are also aware that I've been reviewing new vehicles, weekly (well, frequency is down now given other priorities) for 10 years now....I've spent considerable time with every CUV made in the last decade. I also earn a living managing Canada's largest auto parts business...So I have a very good sense for what breaks, when. Add to that the fact that I also do technical training for our staff, which has me working on a lot of these newer rigs. I am not just running my mouth here, I am speaking from personal experience with the vehicles in question, from behind the wheel, on the wrenches, and on the business end.

If we were talking about truss construction, or legal matters, I'd happily defer to the expertise from the two of you.

[ktm525]

New Tahoe's list at $70,000 to $90,000, ouch!

$90k seems low on the high side.

You are right. Tahoe's go to 100,000, XL Yukon Denali's go to $120,000

Have to be a good profit center for GM

and the old GMTs are better than either of them

[Seafoam]

And an unlimited budget for fuel to keep them on the road as a daily driver.

[Firm]

And an unlimited budget for fuel to keep them on the road as a daily driver.

It's true that they're not great on fuel (though not as bad as you'd think....lifetime on 6.0L AWD example is 16.5L/100km, and that's with mostly local driving the last few years). But $10-15K will buy you one of the best GMT800 examples. If you're comparing that to a $30K 3-year old SUV, or one of the new ones mentioned in the article at $60K, that's a LOT of gas money. In fact, I bet you could put that extra cash in a GIC or something and use the interest to offset the additional fuel cost. 

[Layne]

No Honda Pilot?

*Looks at the one I drive everyday*

The current model isn't competitive anymore.  The 2023 looks to be back towards the head of the class, and the "base" Sport trim would fit the under $60k price bracket.

Kind of what I was thinking.  The new one looks fantastic (although yours is as well).

[Seafoam]

And an unlimited budget for fuel to keep them on the road as a daily driver.

It's true that they're not great on fuel (though not as bad as you'd think....lifetime on 6.0L AWD example is 16.5L/100km, and that's with mostly local driving the last few years). But $10-15K will buy you one of the best GMT800 examples. If you're comparing that to a $30K 3-year old SUV, or one of the new ones mentioned in the article at $60K, that's a LOT of gas money. In fact, I bet you could put that extra cash in a GIC or something and use the interest to offset the additional fuel cost.

No they are bad. I wouldn't call 16.5 good. I'm used to maybe 11 in my truck all city driving. I know you can't really compare the vehicles as they are nothing a like. I'd rather spend my money someplace else than give money to the oil companies. That's just me.

[Great_Big_Abyss]

I'd trust my family in a decently maintained 20 year old GMT800 with 300K on it over the average 3 year old CUV any time.

Really?  My CX-5 is an average 3 year old CUV and it is perfectly fine. 

What, do you think all CUV"s just turn to junk after three years?  Maybe if all you're used to is an Equinox...

My thoughts exactly.

Where did I even imply that a 3 year old CUV would be junk? I just said I'd trust the reliability of a GMT800 over it.....That's not saying it's junk, that's just saying that it's likely going to be less reliable than a decently maintained 800.

You two are also aware that I've been reviewing new vehicles, weekly (well, frequency is down now given other priorities) for 10 years now....I've spent considerable time with every CUV made in the last decade. I also earn a living managing Canada's largest auto parts business...So I have a very good sense for what breaks, when. Add to that the fact that I also do technical training for our staff, which has me working on a lot of these newer rigs. I am not just running my mouth here, I am speaking from personal experience with the vehicles in question, from behind the wheel, on the wrenches, and on the business end.

If we were talking about truss construction, or legal matters, I'd happily defer to the expertise from the two of you.

I'm fully aware of your profession.  BUT I also know you are biased towards certain segments of the automotive landscape. You have a penchant and a knack towards keeping older vehicles pristine and on the road.  Not all of us are blessed with the skills or inclination to do so.

Plus, YOUR GMT800 is impeccably maintained.  A lot of them aren't.  Those ones will probably need a lot more work than an average three year old CUV, which let's be honest, is still practically a new car.

[ktm525]

And an unlimited budget for fuel to keep them on the road as a daily driver.

It's true that they're not great on fuel (though not as bad as you'd think....lifetime on 6.0L AWD example is 16.5L/100km, and that's with mostly local driving the last few years). But $10-15K will buy you one of the best GMT800 examples. If you're comparing that to a $30K 3-year old SUV, or one of the new ones mentioned in the article at $60K, that's a LOT of gas money. In fact, I bet you could put that extra cash in a GIC or something  oil producer stock paying a fat dividend and use the  interest and capital appreciation to more than offset the additional fuel cost.

Fixed that for you.

[dkaz]

I'm averaging 17.0L/100km in my Explorer, but I've put 420 km on it in the last 3 months since I got the Fiesta mostly taking my kids to the ski hill or when I don't feel like dealing with the pain of putting my oldest kid's goalie gear in the tiny car, so honestly it doesn't matter that it's a gas guzzler. Plus 15% of the kms have been towing a big camper so 17 L/100km is really not bad.

[rrocket]

BUT I also know you are biased towards certain segments of the automotive landscape.

You mean GM??   

[ArticSteve]

No Honda Pilot?

*Looks at the one I drive everyday*

The current model isn't competitive anymore.  The 2023 looks to be back towards the head of the class, and the "base" Sport trim would fit the under $60k price bracket.

^^^

Love all the talk about beater land but let's get back to the article, namely how insane prices are vis-a-vis people's income and how the 2023 Pilot was never mentioned.  Far superior to anything mentioned in the article or did I miss something, again. 

[Great_Big_Abyss]

BUT I also know you are biased towards certain segments of the automotive landscape.

You mean GM??   

Specifically older GM's.

[Jaeger]

I'd trust my family in a decently maintained 20 year old GMT800 with 300K on it over the average 3 year old CUV any time.

Really?  My CX-5 is an average 3 year old CUV and it is perfectly fine. 

What, do you think all CUV"s just turn to junk after three years?  Maybe if all you're used to is an Equinox...

My thoughts exactly.

Where did I even imply that a 3 year old CUV would be junk? I just said I'd trust the reliability of a GMT800 over it.....That's not saying it's junk, that's just saying that it's likely going to be less reliable than a decently maintained 800.

You two are also aware that I've been reviewing new vehicles, weekly (well, frequency is down now given other priorities) for 10 years now....I've spent considerable time with every CUV made in the last decade. I also earn a living managing Canada's largest auto parts business...So I have a very good sense for what breaks, when. Add to that the fact that I also do technical training for our staff, which has me working on a lot of these newer rigs. I am not just running my mouth here, I am speaking from personal experience with the vehicles in question, from behind the wheel, on the wrenches, and on the business end.

If we were talking about truss construction, or legal matters, I'd happily defer to the expertise from the two of you.

I'm fully aware of your profession.  BUT I also know you are biased towards certain segments of the automotive landscape. You have a penchant and a knack towards keeping older vehicles pristine and on the road.  Not all of us are blessed with the skills or inclination to do so.

Plus, YOUR GMT800 is impeccably maintained.  A lot of them aren't.  Those ones will probably need a lot more work than an average three year old CUV, which let's be honest, is still practically a new car.

My thoughts exactly.

[Firm]

I am not expecting you guys to swap to GMT800s....but what you're arguing just isn't accurate. Yes, there are some really janky ones out there, but if you go out looking for one that's been impeccably maintained, from out of the salt belt, you'll find plenty, and they'll cost $10-15K with 100K miles on them. Any of those I'd expect to be as solid and reliable as mine own has been, and the only maintenance and repairs I've done on mine over the last 7 years just about anyone here would be able to DIY, or pay to have done, without much stress at all....We're talking one set of brakes, a set of shocks, rear hatch lock actuator, fluids/filters, a heated seat pad, and maybe a couple other little things I am forgetting. Easily <$1000 in parts. The one exception was that HID headlamp fiasco back in like 2017, which took some skills to sort out, but I've never heard of another having any similar issues, and this particular headlamp setup would be unique to the Slade, so you'd never run into that in a GMC/Chevy.

Yes, I like old GMs, but this is why. It's not like I am strictly GMs, I've owned something from just about every major domestic or German brand (except for VAG) at some point.

Drive what you like and enjoy yourself.....Just don't act like I am way off base with my comments here, when it comes to this kind of stuff, I speak the truth whether you like it or not.